It's Thirusha here. I'm a 27 year old South African getting ready to relocate to Switzerland at the end of the month. I'm having a lot of anxiety about the move because I haven't found a job yet. I'm recently qualified to be a teacher. I joined this forum so I can hear about other people's experiences that they had when relocating to Switzerland and share mine, once I figure out what I'm doing.

It's Thirusha here. I'm a 27 year old South African getting ready to relocate to Switzerland at the end of the month. I'm having a lot of anxiety about the move because I haven't found a job yet. I'm recently qualified to be a teacher. I joined this forum so I can hear about other people's experiences that they had when relocating to Switzerland and share mine, once I figure out what I'm doing.

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How do you intend to enter the country if you have no job yet? Is this under family reunification?

I understand that I can't just enter the country. I didn't explain myself properly.
I'm coming to Switzerland on a tourist visa. I will have to apply for jobs while I'm in SA before and after my visit.

I moved up here from SA some years back. I did have the advantage of being a Swiss citizen, so can't offer advice as far as visas except that, as noted, you will need to find an employer here.

What kind of teaching do you do? If you are an english teacher, pm me and I'll send you a lead or two. Be prepared to start part-time and exist on a shoestring for a while, but will get better as you go. As a school teacher, target private schools as public schools here have very specific eligibility criteria. If you are a professor, on the other hand, you shouldn't have too hard a time finding a position .

Be prepared for a serious culture clash and major differences in the mentality and lifestyle. Those things aside, there is a lot to appreciate about Switzerland (primarily good security, as compared to SA). I'm sure you will notice all of these things during your visit.

Thanks for your positive message. I appreciate it.
I completed my post graduate certificate in education last month and I have my TEFL certificate so I'd say I'm an English teacher plus Unfortunately not yet a professor.

I did experiences some of the differences when I visited a couple months ago. I'm going to learn German to help my transition.
Do you enjoy living in Switzerland?

Everyone has made it clear that it's not easy but definitely worth it

Thanks again.

P.S I don't know how to send a PM Good thing I'm not a computer studies teacher.

Part time work isn't going to cut it salary-wise I wouldn't think plus why spend the time and money to apply for a potential employee's permit when they can get someone Swiss/EU without the hassle. Work in the public school system here is out of the question since you'd need to speak a Swiss language fluently.

You do realise that, even if you find an employer willing to try for a permit for you, you'll have to return to South Africa to await the decision there. You'd also need to apply for a Type D visa at the embassy/consulate there since you'd need that to enter Switzerland for more than 90 days.

I understand that I can't just enter the country. I didn't explain myself properly.
I'm coming to Switzerland on a tourist visa. I will have to apply for jobs while I'm in SA before and after my visit.

Hi Thirusha,

I don't want to be ugly and let you down here, but I am a South African that has recently moved to Zurich. To give you some background, I work for a global company that has offices in both Johannesburg and Zurich. I have been working for this firm for 10 years this year.

For both personal and career reasons, I decided to make the move to Zurich, after been offered a good job within the same company. 1 problem... Permit.

It took me almost 10 months from accepting the job offer in Zurich to when I was actually allowed to move here, and that was with a good job, good salary and "internal transfer". Luckily for me, it was an internal transfer, so I was not sitting around and waiting for these 10 months.

Zurich is expensive, especially for us South Africans, so be careful - it is not easy. I suggest that you ensure you are financially stable to support yourself for a long long time while a permit application is being done (once you found a job). Also note, the 90 day tourist visa is NOT LONG ENOUGH to find a job and get employed here.

Finally, I suggest some research on the forum around the permit application process for 3rd state nationals, before expecting to easily get here.

Enjoy the trip here - It really is the most fantastic place

The following 2 users would like to thank Dallmayr for this useful post:

Thanks for your honest response. I understand that you aren't trying to be ugly (that's so South African :P). You are explaining the reality of the situation so I understand what I am getting myself into. I appreciate that. I will look into what you suggested.

I do have enough money to support myself. I will be living with my boyfriend in Switzerland for the time that I am there. I've also already bought my return ticket.
I do understand Switzerland is a very expensive place to be living, especially when you're unemployed.

I moved to Switzerland in 1999. I used to live and originally am from Port Shepstone, KZN. Two years ago my South African wife moved to Switzerland and we got married here. I'm a native German speaker so I managed to settle in well back in 1999, but my wife is having a hard time getting comfortable. Learning German and the Swiss way of life are key to being happy here and it's not easy because of the Swiss German dialect and the Swiss being reserved.

I can confirm what everyone is saying in this thread. Switzerland is a great place and especially Zurich, although small, offers everything a big city does. It's beautiful, clean and relatively safe here. It is however a sweet fruit with a very thick, prickly shell. To keep afloat in Zurich you will want to earn at least CHF 6K a month. If you are living in a suburb you can do with less. You'll be looking at a minimum of CHF 2k a month for rent in a half decent flat in Zurich. Then there's the food...

As far as getting a work permit goes, you'll have to get a job first, which does not only depend on your qualifications but also on the willingness of a company to go through the process of hiring someone outside of the EU.

None of this should stop you though and I hope it works out for you and wish you all the best.